IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

Jesus Frees a Man Possessed by Demons

Date: Feb. 15, 2022

Passage

Mark 5:1-20 (ESV)

They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones. And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. And crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.” For he was saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” 10 And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. 11 Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, 12 and they begged him, saying, “Send us to the pigs; let us enter them.” 13 So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the sea.

14 The herdsmen fled and told it in the city and in the country. And people came to see what it was that had happened. 15 And they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had had the legion, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. 16 And those who had seen it described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and to the pigs. 17 And they began to beg Jesus to depart from their region. 18 As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. 19 And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” 20 And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled.

Daily Bread

Key Verse: 5:19

And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.”

Jesus and his disciples got off the boat in Gerasene, and a demon-possessed man came to them. The townspeople tried to help him by tying and binding him so that he wouldn't harm himself and others, but their efforts failed. The man broke the iron chains and lived among the tombs, crying and cutting himself with stones (5).

People feared and avoided him, seeing the demons that were controlling him. However, Jesus saw him as a man created by God. When Jesus asked his name, the man realized what had been controlling him. One may argue if it was really necessary for Jesus to allow the demons to possess and then drown the pigs at their request. It sounds too costly. However, Jesus shows us that restoring one man's life is more valuable than any material sacrifice. Jesus' sacrifice to give himself up on the cross further proves his desire to save us from the sin of the world at any cost.

The man wanted to follow Jesus. However, Jesus saw that he was ready to be an apostle who goes into the world to witness the grace he has received.

Prayer: Prayer: Father, thank you for your grace of freeing me from Satan's grip and restoring my love relationship with you. Please use me as your witness.

One Word: One Word: How much grace I have received

Daily Bread

Repent of Compromise with the World

Revelation 2:12-29

Key Verse: 2:16

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Intro Daily